Objective: Freediving is a unique underwater sport that relies on voluntary breath-hold, with competitions held in multiple disciplines such as constant weight diving (CWT), free immersion diving (FIM), constant weight no fins (CNF), and bifins (BF). Performance depends on physiological, psychological, and environmental factors, while complications such as hypoxic blackout (BO) and disqualification (DQ) represent significant safety concerns. This study aimed to evaluate freediving competition outcomes in Türkiye by gender, discipline, and competition type, with a focus on performance parameters and complications.
Material and Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using official records of national and international freediving competitions organized by the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF) in 2021. Data from 150 athletes (57 women, 38%; 93 men, 62%) were included. Performance metrics (target distance, achieved distance, final distance, penalty distance, target/performance and final/target ratios) and complications (BO, DQ, did not start [DNS], non-participation) were analyzed. Statistical evaluations were performed with NCSS 2020, using t-tests, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Dunn tests where appropriate, with p<0.05 considered significant.
Results: Among women, 74% completed their events, while 26% were eliminated, mostly due to DNS (35%) and non-participation (30%). Among men, 83% completed competitions, while 17% were eliminated, with BO being the most frequent cause (31.6%). In international competitions, male athletes achieved significantly greater target, performance, and final distances in the CWT and FIM disciplines compared to national competitions (p<0.05). Female athletes showed no significant differences across competition levels.
Conclusion: Male athletes demonstrated higher overall performance, while female athletes had higher DNS and non-participation rates, suggesting the influence of motivational and psychological factors beyond physiology. BO emerged as the most critical complication, underscoring the need for strict safety protocols and rapid emergency response systems. This study highlights that freediving performance is determined not only by physical capacity but also by discipline selection, competition type, and psychological readiness. Strengthening safety measures and developing prospective, multicenter studies will be essential to optimize performance and reduce risks in future competitions.
Keywords: Apnea competition, athlete safety, blackout, disqualification, freediving, gender differences, performance analysis, underwater sports
